President Donald Trump ratcheted up the rhetoric yesterday against Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who Trump indicated previously is likely to be fired after the midterm elections. Despite heeding advice that firing Sessions now would further magnify expected losses in November, Trump has filled the news with repeated indications that he has already decided to do so. The latest attack however is surprising in criticizing Sessions for the prosecution of two members of Congress for insider trading and campaign finance violations, respectively. GOP Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Chris Collins of New York are not particularly sympathetic characters and Trump is complaining solely that they were “safe seats” that could now be lost. Of course, if Sessions were to consider the political ramifications for such prosecutions, he would violating his sworn constitutional duties as Attorney General.

Trump tweeted:

“Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff…..”

Donald J. Trump

✔@realDonaldTrump

Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff……

Yet, Hunter and his wife, Margaret, have been widely denounced after their indictments for allegedly converting $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses and filing false records. Collins is facing very serious insider trading allegation.

What is curious is that the tweet will highlight these disturbing cases and suggest that they should not have been prosecuted. In the case of the Hunters, prosecutors detailedover seven years of the use of campaign funds for such things as a Hawaiian vacation and airfare for the family rabbit. In addition for groceries, utilities, school tuition, and other expenses, some $700 was used to pay a “local dentist” as a “charitable contribution to ‘Smiles for Life'” and $200 weekly golf fees as “a Christian thing with a supporter.”

Whether these men are “popular” or hold safe seats is entirely immaterial to the decisions of the Justice Department. Indeed, such considerations would establish the very political bias that Trump has long-complained about. These are viewed as strong cases investigated and charged by career prosecutors.

Moreover, these prosecutions were brought well before the informal period before an election during which the Justice Department asks prosecutors to avoid any actions that might affect an election. Since House members are elected every two years, any prosecution would obviously impact the next election but the timing of these prosecutions is in full conformity with the informal rule.

51 thoughts on “Trump Blasts Sessions For Prosecution Of Republicans For Insider Trading And Campaign Finance Violations Before Midterm Elections”

Although the term “Bombshell” is overused, I think that by any yardstick, this anonymous editorial by a high-ranked official in the administration of the day glo bozo qualifies as such … The hits just keep coming. What is that ticking sound?

Even if Trump tried to fire all the people he’d need to fire to shut Mueller down, the U.S. attorneys at the Southern District of New York are hot on the President’s trail, too. And even if he fires the entire Justice Dept. (which would be a true Saturday Night Massacre), the state AG of New York has an investigation going, too. Plus there are all the folks who have already copped a plea and/or been convicted. Those cannot be undone.

Trump’s attitude towards these prosecutions betrays his entire outlook: ‘no concern for rule of law’. Trump’s tweets are even cynical enough to suggest that somehow Sessions is prosecuting ‘Obama cases’. Like Sessions, who was, not long ago, one of our most conservative senators, is now carrying on Obama’s work at the Justice Department.

These tweets illustrate the depths of Trump’s moral and intellectual bankruptcy. Not only does he not care about the charges these congressmen face, but Trump was not even curious enough to discuss the cases with knowledgeable sources. Which goes to show that Trump will tweet almost anything without a second thought.

considering political ramifications is precisely what all prosecutors do. we all know that. I’m sure we could find a thousand examples cutting across party lines. whatever the supposed obligations are. So Trump openly criticized his AG for a prosecution that helps Dems. Well. Here’s a first, a politician that says frankly says out loud what they all say behind closed doors, and doesn’t pretend to be mister neutral. It’s a better place at the end of the day than all the fakery.

Except that–no matter how demonstrably unfit for the position–the day glo bozo is the head of the Executive Branch of the government, and therefore responsible for enforcement of the law. This buffoon is openly putting party before the law. Are you so eaten up with hannity ball-bagging that you can’t see that there’s supposed to be a difference between the United States of America and some banana-republic kleptocracy? Regrettably, you are yet again lending a prescient power to my characterization of the trump sycophants: gullible rubes, dupes, klan-wannabees, pocket traitors and grifters on the make.I’ll generously allow you to take your pick of which jacket you feel more comfortable wearing.

One wonders whether these indictments could have been brought earlier, such that the voters could take them into account in selecting candidates rather than have the indictments brought between primary and election when no other candidate can be substituted.

Duncan Hunter is my rep and the allegations against him have been around for quite some time. It’s was difficult getting any firm answers on what was being investigated, evidence, etc. Because no charges had been brought and no evidence presented, it was always seen as a political tactic to impugn Hunter’s character. The fact the investigation has been going on so long, the timing of the indictments are certainly suspect. Our primary was in June and these charges could have been announced a very long time ago.

I have no problem prosecuting him and his wife and if guilty, they should receive just punishment. My question is why has it taken so long?

Olly, my understanding is that local, San Diego media was primarily responsible for making the case against Duncan Hunter. Hunter should have, perhaps, declined to run for another term. But apparently his father, the former congressman, convinced party leaders that his son had nothing to worry about.

Evidently the priorities of the Attorney General are supposed to be: 1) to defend Donald Trump against any and all accusations, and 2) to defend the Republican party interests and all Republican officials against any and all accusations. Upholding the rule of law is a minor additional duty, which can be ignored with respect to items 1 and 2..

Patently false, but that hat looks good on you and fits nicely. Although your “contribution” reeks of intellectually vapid “whataboutism,” I suggest you Google Jesse Jackson, Jr., who was the the campaign manager of President Barack HUSSEIN Obama, the greatest President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces since Harry Truman. You will find that Jackson was prosecuted by the feds during the Saint Obama administration.

Marky Mark Mark – assuming facts not in evidence. Obama was a crap president. You will notice I did not capitalize it. That is how far down the list he is eventually going to be. And I don’t know that Hillary would not have been worse. Was Jesse Jackson, Jr. running for office again? Is that why they went after him, to slow him down?

So, we have Trump complaining about loyalty and power for power’s sake, regardless of the lack of integrity. Erdogan 86’d a few hundred thousand teachers and other professionals because they weren’t ‘loyal’. Trump admires Erdogan, Putin, Un, Dutarte, and other ‘strong’ leaders.

Make note of how much Trump complains about the mechanics of power not being executed correctly, or the ‘deal’. Make note of how much Trump complains about his people not being completely loyal. This is not an American Presidency.

Politicians are best prosecuted immediately if there is probable cause to indict. Holding out by a prosecutor until an election is a malfeasance of office. Ordinary citizens who break the law are usually summarily arrested so should politicians.

Darren Smith – with one of them much of it took place under the Obama administration (not to blame him) but they are just discovering it now? Little George makes an off-hand remark in an upscale bar and you have a team of FBI setting up a counter-intelligence unit to investigate first candidate, the President-elect and then President Trump. And we still haven’t found the CIA plant who fed George the info. And by we, I mean pretty much everybody who is looking. We should be putting Mifsud’s picture on milk cartons, he has been missing so long.

As the ship of this buffoonish yet malevolent administration takes on water, the gullible rubes, dupes, klan-wannabees, pocket traitors and grifters on the make are starting to ask: “what is that ticking sound?”

wannabee klan? all you need to do to be a klucker is get a PO Box a website and send an email to SPLC telling them you have formed another hate group to add to their list and ask them for some free advertising on it to gin up donations.

The “keyboard warriors” who spew here are much, much too anxious, timid and frightened to take such concrete action in the real world. Not a single one would ever dream about articulating any of their racist bile to a real person in real life. Hence the “wannabee” moniker.

Marky Mark Mark – I gave R. Lien my schedule and he/she/it/their has yet to arrive. Would you like to take he/she/it/their/ place? The weather is a little nicer, but do bring sun glasses. The sun is really bright here. We are not called the Valley of the Sun for nothing.

Some have surmised that when a Democratic Congress is in place, Mr Trump will sign and praise whatever they put before him and then brag about getting along with both parties. He has no opinion on the issues, only a desire to feed the wolves.